Int. J. Dev. Biol. 49: 851 - 858 (2005)

https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.052013ad

Vol 49, Issue 7

PBX1 intracellular localization is independent of MEIS1 in epithelial cells of the developing female genital tract

Original Article | Published: 1 September 2005

Agnès Dintilhac¹, Réjane Bihan¹, Daniel Guerrier¹, Stéphane Deschamps¹, Héloise Bougerie¹, Tanguy Watrin¹, Georgette Bonnec² and Isabelle Pellerin*^,1

¹UMR 6061, Génétique et Développement, IFR 140, Université de Rennes 1, Campus Villejean, Rennes, France and ²UMR 6026, Interactions Cellulaires et Moléculaires, IFR 140, Campus Beaulieu, Rennes, France

Abstract

While studies have highlighted the role of HOXA9-13 and PBX1 homeobox genes during the development of the female genital tract, the molecular mechanisms triggered by these genes are incompletely elucidated. In several developmental pathways, PBX1 binds to MEINOX family members in the cytoplasm to be imported into the nucleus where they associate with HOX proteins to form a higher complex that modulates gene expression. This concept has been challenged by a recent report showing that in some cell cultures, PBX1 nuclear localization might be regulated independently of MEINOX proteins (Kilstrup-Nielsen et al., 2003). Our work gives the first illustration of this alternative mechanism in an organogenesis process. Indeed, we show that PBX1 is mostly cytoplasmic in epithelial endometrial cells of the developing female genital tract despite the nuclear localization of MEIS1. We thus provide evidence for a control of PBX1 intracellular distribution which is independent of MEINOX proteins, but is cell cycle correlated.

Keywords

PBX, HOXA, MEIS, Abd-B, female genital tract, mouse, cell cycle